NORMAL — On what was a frustrating day for Cyclones hitters, West Prairie needed one major break to win the Class 1A Normal softball supersectional.

That break came in the top of the sixth with the score tied 2-2, the bases loaded and two out.

After Tabby Bilderback worked a full count, the Cyclones senior hit a slow roller along the third base line.

The ball hugged the line, hit the bag and bounced over the shoulder of Somonauk (23-5) third baseman Jensen Parks for a hit.

Morgan Weaver scored the game-winning run to send the Cyclones (26-9) to state with a 3-2 win.

“That was the game right there,” West Prairie coach Jim Scott said. “That was what made the game, without a doubt.”

Bilderback was ahead 3-0, but Somonauk pitcher Bailee Krantz battled back to a full count. Bilderback fouled off three straight pitches before getting the go-ahead RBI.

“That’s Tabby Bilderback, she does a nice job,” Scott said. “She usually doesn’t chase, she did chase one earlier in the game, but she adjusted.

“She got in the take mode with the bases loaded, but there’s only three girls we want in that situation and she’s one of them.”

The Cyclones’ offense struggled most of the game, not getting a hit through three innings.

After Somonauk took a 2-0 lead, West Prairie finally made its move.

Hanna Runner led off the fourth with a double, then scored on Jen Reedy’s double.

Reedy scored to tie the game at 2 on an RBI single by Weaver.

“It took awhile to adjust to their pitcher, once we did, we attacked the ball better,” Scott said. “Hanna, then Jen Reedy, those two strokes really got us going and that came right after Somonauk scored, so that was good timing by those two seniors to get us going.”

The Cyclones never really broke out of their offensive funk, tallying eight hits, but pitcher Kourtney Campbell kept her team in the game, allowing two unearned runs.

It wasn’t easy for Campbell though, as she had a tough time early.

“You want those high strikes but I wasn’t getting them,” she said. “I had to adjust because it wasn’t there.”

Campbell appeared visibly frustrated early in the game, but after the third inning, she would not allow another Bobcat run.

“We had to pull her back a bit,” Scott said. “She was too ready to go. The change-up was not working as effectively, so she had to rely on other things.”

Page 2 of 2 - Campbell relied on herself for the two biggest outs in the game.

In the bottom of the sixth and West Prairie up one, Somonauk loaded the bases with one out for leadoff hitter Maddie Kawall.

Kawall forced a full count, but on the payoff pitch, Campbell was able to get a grounder back to herself.

She threw home for the force and second out of the inning.

“I was just telling myself to try and get something on the ground at someone so we would have a play,” Campbell said. “She was fouling off a lot of pitches, but I was able to get her.”

The next batter, Parks, didn’t have a chance, going down on strikes on three pitches.

“I wanted to throw strikes and let the defense work,” Campbell said. “We were able to get her and get through it.”

The win sends the Cyclones to a Class 1A state semifinal matchup against Altamont at 10 a.m. Friday at EastSide Centre in East Peoria.